Beverly J. McLaughlin – McSherry, 82

Beverly J. McLaughlin – McSherry passed away on May 2, 2022.

Beverly was born March 8, 1940 to Fred and Marie Thompson in Sanders, Idaho and was a lifelong resident of Idaho, graduating high school from Plummer.

Bev was an accomplished equestrian and represented her community as rodeo royalty during her high school years in addition to performing at rodeos and horse shows as a skilled trick rider with her horse, Shek. She was strikingly beautiful and competed in regional pageants, equally as comfortable wearing a tiara on a runway as she was astride a horse wearing a cowboy hat.

She married Herb McLaughlin and raised four children: Shelley (Ron) Rosenberger of Hayden, Tresa (Steve) Schmautz of Spokane, Sue (Barney) Balcom of Newport, Wash., and Mike (Kelly) McLaughlin of Fallbrook, Calif. Bev somehow juggled mom duties with owning the Cotton Club with Herb in Hayden for many years. Running a night club until the early morning hours blended in to busy days as a mom of four.

Summers included family camping trips, 4-H activities and long days at Honeysuckle Beach with neighborhood friends. Winters were the JC Penny Ski School Bus, where she packed us all on to a bus to Schweitzer Mountain every Saturday. Likely the smell of those diesel fumes from that bus as it drove away became a favorite experience knowing she had a few hours to herself once a week.

Bev’s grandchildren remember her as that Fun Grandma who would go tubing with you behind the boat, jump off the rope swing on the Coeur d’Alene River, join you on the dance floor at every opportunity, find your latest iteration of a “potato gun” remarkable and could always be sworn to secrecy regarding your escapades.

Bev married Bob McSherry in 1998 and celebrated the addition of four stepchildren and increased the number of grandchildren to 21. They met in the checkout line at Super 1 Foods in Hayden where Bev worked for over 25 years. Bob seemed to always find himself in Bev’s line and his charm and persistence paid off.

Bob was the partner she had always deserved and they fell in step doing life as though it was always meant to be. They shared their faith, loved gardening and developed cherished friendships with other couples throughout the community while delighting in the arrival of each new great-grandchild — 49 at last count. Mom left us with great memories of her devotion to our family and we look forward to gathering this summer to celebrate her. At her request, no services will be held.

Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please visit Bev’s online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com